A torrent of public ridicule has forced a British-Dutch composer to withdraw
the official song for the celebrations next week of the investiture of
Willem-Alexander, the new Dutch King.

A syrupy tune with lines such as “I build a dyke with my bare hands and keep
the water away from you” ensured the humiliation of the Hampshire-born John
Ewbank — although the words were suggested by Dutch celebrities. After
38,000 people signed an online petition rejecting the work, Ewbank wrote on
his Facebook page: “Dear compatriots, after having to block yet another
insult on my Twitter account, I am now totally